Windies tell Gayle to withdraw criticism

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Former West Indies captain Chris Gayle was today told to retract his bitter criticism of the region's governing body if he wanted to resurrect his international career.

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) told the big-hitting batsman that they are prepared to negotiate a way out of the impasse which has left the 32-year-old exiled from the national team.

"The West Indies Cricket Board requires that Chris Gayle withdraws his comments in order to be considered for selection to the West Indies team," said a statement released early Thursday after a meeting of the WICB board of directors.

"The decision has been communicated to Mr. Gayle and the Board awaits his response."

Gayle, who has had a series of disputes with the WICB, has not played for the West Indies since the World Cup earlier this year.

He chose to participate in the lucrative Indian Premier League in April after being overlooked for the home series against Pakistan.

Gayle then gave a radio interview in which he questioned his treatment by members of the board, including chief executive Ernest Hilaire and coach Ottis Gibson.

Gayle has since been ignored for the ongoing tour of Bangladesh, where the first Test opens in Chittagong on Friday.

Former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd, who is thecurrent director of the WICB, said officials had been fair.

"First of all, it is disappointing that the matter has gone on for as long as it has," Lloyd said. "What we need now is closure and, to be fair, anyone to whom those comments were made would have a right to take umbrage.

"Withdrawing the comments would be the intelligent thing to do to get the issue resolved and have every one move on.

"We need senior players to be in the set up to drive the progress forward and any team would love to entertain Gayle in their set up, but under the right circumstances."

Gayle has played 91 Tests and 228 one-day internationals since making his debut in 2000. He has made 6,373 runs in Tests with a highest score of 333, and 8,087 runs in ODI with a best of 153 not out.